Handgun hammer enclosing handgrips



4, 1966 LABBIE ETAL 3,226,870

HANDGUN HAMMER ENCLOSING HANDGRIPS Filed Aug. 5. 1964 Leon Labbie A/len M. Bern/rranf INVENTORS BY @MM Wyw -Mq,

This invention relates to a novel and useful attachment for handguns and more specifically to handgrips for a handgun of the type including an exposed hammer.

Service revolvers and the like utilized by law enforcement officer's include a projection on the hammer which,

extends beyond the frame of the handgun and which is adapted to be engaged by the thumb or finger or the user of the handgun in order to cock the hammer. While this outward projection carried by the hammer of a revolver serves a' very important purpose enabling the user of the handgun to readily determine whether or not the hammer is cocked by feel, because it must necessarily project outwardly beyond the frame of the handgun to be readily engaged by the thumb of the user when it is desired to determine whether the hammer of the gun is cocked, this projection also has a tendency to lessen the speed in which the handgun may be withdrawn from a holster. In addition, this thumb or finger projection can catch on portions of some holsters when the associated handgun is being withdrawn and cause a serious impediment to the drawing of the handgun. Still further, should the handgun be carriedin a pocket of the clothing worn by the user, the finger or thumb projection may also catch on the users clothing. This of course can not only impede the drawing ofthe handgun but also result in the users clothing being torn if it becomes necessary for the user to quickly withdraw the handgun from his pocket.

It is therefore the main object of this invention to provide a' handgun of the type including a hammer mounted thumb or finger projection with an enclosure whereby the entire hammer will be guarded against engagement with various portions of a holster or the users clothing as the gun is being drawn.

Yet another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide an enclosure for a handgun hammer thumb or finger projection which will not only be capable of preventing the hammer of the handgun from catching on a portion of a holster or the users clothing but which will also still enable the user of the handgun to readily engage the thumb projection with the thumb of the hand in which the handgun is held so as to readily determine by feel whether or not the hammer of the handgun is cocked.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an enclbsure for the thumb projection of the hammer of a handgun in the form of upper extensions carried by the handgrip's secured to either side of the handgrip portion of the frame of the handgun. hammer'enclosure or guard may be readily secured to substant'ially any existing handgun merely by replacing the handgrips and without having to perform any machining operations on the handgun itself or any other operations which would otherwise alter the handgun.

Another object of this invention is to provide a handgun hammer enclosure in accordance with the preceding objects which will also prevent anyone other than the persons holding the handgun from manually engaging the hammer and cocking the latter.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a hammer enclosure for a handgun which will prevent the hammer from being accidentially cocked by bumping the hammer of the handgun against an object.

A still further object of this invention isto provide a handgun hammer enclosure that may be readily trans- In this'manner, the desired? Un t a e P s 3,226,870- Pa na? Jar-t 1. 6

ferred from one handgun to another handgun of the same or similar type.

A still further objectof this invention is to provide a handgun hammer enclosure which may be readily re' moved if it is desired for the purpose of using the handgun for target practice. 7 p p Still another important object of this invention is tci provide a handgun hammer enclosure in form of e53: tensions of conventional handgrips which will also pro'-' vide a better handgrip for the user of the handgun. x I A still further object of this invention is to provide handgun hammer enclosure in the form of extensions of the conventional handgrips carried by ahandguntand which readily adapt themselves for use on oversize hand-- A final object of this invention to be specificallyenu merated herein is to provide a handgun hammer enclosure which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be ofsimple constructiorl and easy to" install so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible," lOhg lasting and relatively tro'ublefreje in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad t6 the sc'c' mpanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevatibhal view" of conventional form of handgun shovvn with the hammer enclosure of the instant invention operatively mounted thereon;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevatifmal View of the assembly illustrated in FIGURE 1 as seen from the right side thereof; 7 I

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the pair of handg'rips forming the hammer enclosure of the instant invention shown removed from the handgun and as seen from the inside surfaces thereof so as to more clearly illustrate the manner in which the hammer safety spring may be slid'abl'y supported therebetween; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the hammer safety" spring.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the. numeral 10' generally designates a conventional form of handgun revolver including a cylinder 12 which is rotata bly supported from a frame 14. The frame 14 includes the usual rea'rwardly and downwardly inclined hand g'rip' portion 16 to whose opposite sides' a pair of handgrip plates ar usually removabl'y secured.

The frame 14 of the handgun 10 includes a vertical slot 18 in the upper portion of the handgrip portion 16 thereof through which the hammer 20' of the handgun 10 projects; The hammer 20" is pivotally supported from the frame 14 for movement about a horizontal transverse axis and includes a knurled thumb or finger projection 24. It is the finger projection 24 which is to be enclosed by the handgun hammer enclosing hahdgrips' of the instant' invention which cooperate together to form an enclosure for the projection 24'. i The handgrips of the iiis t ant in' vention are substantially indentical except that they are right and left-handed and are referred to by the reference numerals 26' and 28. The handgr'ip s 26 and 38 are a present invention is defined by a pair of upper extensionsaid to be substantially conventional in design.

From FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings it may be seen that the extensions 26' and 28' project upwardly from the frame 14 and define upstanding walls disposed on opposite sides of the projection 24. Further, the contour of the extensions 26' and 28 is such that the complete path of movement of the projection 24 is enclosed thereby from opposite sides. However, from FIGURE 2 of the drawings, it may be seen that the user of the handgun may readily engage the projection 24 with the thumb of the hand encircling the handgrip portion 16 in order to pull the thumb projection 24 rearwardly for the purpose of cocking the hammer 20. The handgrips 26 and 28 include opposing recesses 36 and 38, respectively, formed in confronting rear marginal edge portions of the handgrip projecting rearwardly of the handgrip portion 16 of the frame 14 and which define a rearwardly and upwardly opening slot between the upper portions of the handgrips 26 and 28. In addition, as may best be seen from FIG- URE 3 of the drawings, the handgrips 26 and 28 include confronting grooves 40 and 42 which define a channel in which an elongated hammer safety leaf spring 44 is longitudinally reciprocal. The leaf spring 44 may or may not be used. Further, the portions of the rear marginal edge portions of the handgrips 26 and 28 disposed below the recesses 36 and 38 define lateral extensions overlying the lower rear edge of the handgrip frame 14.

When the leaf spring 44 is used its opposite longitudinal edge portions are received in the slots or channels 40 and 42. The leaf spring 44 has a spring catch 46 secured thereto in any convenient manner such as by fasteners 48 and a free end portion 50 is defined at one end of the spring catch 46 and includes a laterally enlarged head 52. The free end portion of the spring catch 46 and its head 52 are receivable in a T-shaped opening 53 formed in the leaf spring 44 in order that the head 52 may be laterally displaced into coplanar relation with the spring 44 so that the remote ends of the head 52 may also be received in the grooves 40 and 42.

As soon as the laterally enlarged head 52 is moved upwardly beyond the upper end of the slot defined by the recesses 36 and 38, the normal resiliency of the spring catch 46 displaces the laterally enlarged head 52 outwardly from the leaf spring 44 in order that the head 52 may engage the portions of the handgrips 26 and 28 disposed on opposite sides of the upper end of the slot defined by the recesses 36 and 33. When the leaf spring 44- is positioned with the laterally enlarged head 52 disposed above the slot defined by the recesses 36 and 38, the upper end of the leaf spring 44 is received in the upper end portions of the slots or channels 40 and 42 and engages the back or undersurface of the thumb projection 24. Inasmuch as the leaf spring 44 may not be slid downwardly toward the retracted position illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings without first depressing the laterally enlarged head 52 toward the leaf spring 44, rearward movement of the thumb projection 24 and thus cocking of the hammer 2G is prevented.

Accordingly, it may be seen that the handgun hammer enclosing handgrips 26 and 28 of the instant invention not only provide an enclosure for the thumb projection 24 of the hammer 20 but also provide a means whereby a hammer safety may be provided which is releasably operable to prevent the hammer 20 of the handgun 10 from being cocked.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a handgun of the type including a frame d fining a rearwar ly and downwardly clined handgri portion adapted to have handgrips secured to opposite sides thereof and including a vertically extending slot in its upper end, said handgun further including a hammer swingable through a vertical plane and whose upper portion project through and is slidably re ceived in said slot, said upper projecting portion of said hammer terminating in a thumb projection, a pair of handgrips for and secured to the opposite sides of said handgrip portion of said frame, said handgrips including upper extensions projecting above the portions of the frame through a complete path of movement of said thumb projection during cocking operation, said handgrip extensions having their opposite sides relieved at their inner edges along said slot to form a depression therein at the sides of said thumb projection providing ample clearance for a thumb or finger engaging said projection to facilitate cocking operation.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said handgrips include rear marginal edge portions projecting rearwardly of the handgrip portion of said frame and said marginal edge portions include lateral projections disposed below said slot projecting toward each other and overlying the rear edge of the handgrip portion of said frame.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein at least lower portions of the opposing portions of said projections are disposed in abutting relation and completely enclose the rear edge of said handgrip portion.

4. In combination with a handgun of the type including a frame defining a rearwardly and downwardly inclined handgrip portion adapted to have handgrips secured to opposite sides thereof and including a vertically extending slot in its upper end, said handgun further including a hammer swingable through a vertical plane and Whose upper portion projects through and is slidably received in said slot, a pair of handgrips for and secured to the opposite sides of said handgrip portion of said frame, said handgrips including upper extensions projecting above the portions of the frame through which said slot opens and enclosing the oposite sides of the area through which the upper and outwardly projecting portion of said hammer is swingable, said handgrips including rear marginal edge portions projecting rearwardly of the handgrip portion of said frame and including means defining confronting recesses defining a second slot communi cated with the lower end of the first-mentioned slot at their upper ends, said recesses including means defining confronting grooves extending therealong and into the first-mentioned slot, an elongated panel-like hammer safety strip disposed with its opposite side marginal edge portions slidably disposed in said grooves, the upper end of said strip being shiftable upwardly through said grooves to close at least the lower end of the first-mentioned slot and engageable with the back of said hammer to prevent the latter from being cocked, said strip and handgrips including coacting latch means releasably engageable with each other for preventing downward shifting of said strip relative to said handgrips away from a position engaged with said hammer and retaining the latter in a forward and upper uncocked position.

5. In combination with a handgun of the type including a frame defining a rearwardly and downwardly i11- clined handgrip portion adapted to have handgrips secured to opposite sides thereof and including a vertically extending slot in its upper end, said handgun further in cluding a hammer swingable through a vertical plane and whose upper portion projects through and is slidably received in said slot, a pair of handgrips for and secured to the opposite sides of said handgrip portion of said. frame, said handgrips including upper extensions pro-- jecting above the portions of the frame through which said slot opens and enclosing the opposite sides of the area through which the upper and outwardly projecting portion of said hammer is swingable, said handgrips including rear marginal edge portions projecting rearwardly of the handgrip portion of said frame, hammer safety means movably supported from and shiftable along said rear marginal edge portions to close at least the lower end of said slot and engageable with the back of said hammer to prevent the latter from being readily cocked.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said hammer safety means and said handgrips include coacting latch means releasably engageable with each other for preventing rear downward shifting of said hammer safety means relative to said handgrips away from a position engaged with said hammer and retaining the latter in a forward and upper uncocked position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,341,843 6/1920 Donadio 4271 2,647,338 8/1953 McNally 4266 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A COMBINATION WITH A HANDGUN OF THE TYPE INCLUDING A FRAME DEFINING A REARWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY INCLINED HANDGRIP PORTION ADAPTED TO HAVE HANDGRIPS SECURED TO OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF AND INCLUDING A VERTICALLY EXTENDING SLOT IN ITS UPPER END, SAID HANDGUN FURTHER INCLUDING A HAMMER SWINGABLE THROUGH A VERTICAL PLANE AND WHOSE UPPER PORTION PROJECTS THROUGH AND IS SLIDABLY RECEIVED IN SAID SLOT, SAID UPPER PROJECTING PORTION OF SAID HAMMER TERMINATING IN A THUMB PROJECTING, A PAIR OF HANDGRIPS FOR AND SECURED TO THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID HANDGRIP PORTION OF SAID FRAME, SAID HANDGRIPS INCLUDING UPPER EXTENSIONS PROJECTING ABOVE THE PORTION OF THE FRAME THROUGH A COMPLETE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID THUMB PROJECTION DURING COCKING OPERATION, SAID HANDGRIP EXTENSIONS HAVING THEIR OPPOSITE SIDES RELIEVED AT THEIR INNER EDGES ALONG SAID SLOT TO FORM A DEPRESSION THEREIN AT THE SIDES OF SAID THUMB PROJECTION PROVIDING AMPLE CLEARANCE FOR A THUMB OR FINGER ENGAGING SAID PROJECTION TO FACILITATE COCKING OPERATION. 